san diego: dialed in: CoViD-19: More Than 66K US Deaths In Last 4 Weeks | Newsom Lays Out Gun Sense Bills | US Pulls Back Curtain on Russia | Mexican Avocado Imports Resume

Mexico Avocado Imports Have Resumed (Taken 2.17.2020)

When I was growing up, my dad did all the household grocery shopping. He's a math and numbers guy, so every Wednesday when the new mailers for each store came out, he'd study each one meticulously while comparing them with all the coupons he'd cut from the Sunday paper and then we'd go on these grocery adventures with him to Big Bear, Alpha Beta, and Safeway, the stores that were pretty much equidistant from our house. He'd give each of us a coupon and we'd kinda treasure hunt through the store to make sure we got, say, two boxes of granola bars to matched the parameters of the coupon and the ad.

These days he's not mobile but still sends my mom to specific stores to get specific sale items. His methods were no doubt impressed upon me as I carefully choose what stuff we get at Costco vs Vons vs Grocery Outlet. I don't think Sunday coupons are even a thing anymore, but when I get my weekly Vons email, I make note and "clip all coupons" in the app. I keep seeing the news harping about grocery bills and I definitely feel the pinch from gas prices and see the inflation around us, but it seems to me a lot more greed-based than policy based, so my only political sway is to consume and spend less. OPEC has been trying to get a barrel to $100 all year and they may finally succeed, especially with Russia's posture with respect to Ukraine. Corporate profits have never been higher. Private equity firms are buying up all the housing and jacking all the rents and inflating the housing market while cutting their own costs and any care to tenants. So yeah, like everyone, I'm definitely concerned, but if this pandemic has taught me anything, it's to be a little more practical and a lot more informed. At the moment, Vons has T-bones for $5.99 a pound and avocados are 97cents, no limit. So maybe, at least here in San Diego, a city of abundance, we can turn down the panic on the news just a notch?

Today's press conferences were pretty amazing. I recommend watching the California briefing on gun safety and proposed legislation. Governor Newsom was on fire and naming names - Ronald Reagan, the Supreme Court, and OAN, Newsmax, Bannon, Judge Benitez, et al. were all targets of his ire. It was kind of amazing. It was a huge win for groups like the Brady Campaign, Moms Demand Action, and Sandy Hook Promise.

And if you're trying to wrap your head around what's going on in Ukraine, you should watch Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics and Deputy NEC Director Daleep Singh for an explainer. My new government crush, by the way.

In the past 4 weeks, 66,622 people have died with or from COVID-19 in the United States. If San Diego is consistent with recent daily deaths, we'll hit 5,000 deaths countywide over the weekend. It's not over.

Stay safe out there.

COVID-19:

Ivermectin Flops Again for COVID, This Time in High-Risk Adults — Malaysian trial finds no difference in progression to severe disease over standard of care - MedPage Today (2.18.22)
As Covid Slogs On, Seniors Find Fortitude Waning and Malaise Growing - KHN (2.18.22)
As BA.2 subvariant of Omicron rises, lab studies point to signs of severity - CNN (2.17.22)

Politics:

US Agencies Say Russian Hackers Compromised Defense Contractors. Kremlin-backed cyber actors lurked in the networks for months, obtaining sensitive documents related to weapons and infrastructure development. Ars Technica/Wired (2.17.22)
Governor Newsom Takes Action to Hold the Gun Industry Accountable and Advance California’s Nation-Leading Protections - Office of Governor Newsom (2.18.22)

Attorney General Bonta: Assembly Bill 1594 Will Increase Firearm Industry Accountability

Governor Newsom Files Amicus Brief in UC Berkeley Enrollment Case, Arguing for College Access and Affordability
Mayor Gloria Launches 'Build Better SD' to Improve Neighborhoods Faster - San Diego Mayor Gloria Newsroom (2.18.22)

News:

Avocado shipments from Mexico are resuming after the U.S. lifts its ban - npr/kpbs (2.18.22)
Oath Keepers leader to stay jailed until Capitol riot trial - AP News (2.18.22)

Government:

White House

Remarks by President Biden Providing an Update on Russia and Ukraine

Readout of President Biden’s Call with Transatlantic Leaders

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger, and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics and Deputy NEC Director Daleep Singh, February 18, 2022
Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency Concerning the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-⁠19) Pandemic

Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency Concerning the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-⁠19) Pandemic

Bill Signed: H.R. 6617

“Further Additional Extending Government Funding Act,” which provides fiscal year 2022 appropriations to Federal agencies through March 11, 2022

Background Press Briefing on the Vice President’s Events in Munich, Germany

Readout of Vice President Kamala Harris’s Meeting with Baltic Leaders

Remarks by Vice President Harris, President Levits of Latvia, President Nausėda Of Lithuania, and Prime Minister Kallas of Estonia Before Multilateral Meeting

Readout of Vice President Harris’s Meeting with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg

Remarks by Vice President Harris and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Before Bilateral Meeting

Day Of Remembrance Of Japanese American Incarceration During World War II
A Proclamation on National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, 2022

Dept of Defense

DOD Awards Contracts to Purchase COVID-19 Antigen Over-the-Counter Test Kits in Support of POTUS’ One Billion Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests (Awarded contract modifications to Roche Diagnostics Corporation and Siemens Healthineers; 138 million kits)
DOD Awards Contracts to Purchase COVID-19 Antigen Over-the-Counter Test Kits in Support of POTUS' One Billion Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests (To InBios International and Maxim Biomedical, Inc., 18M Kits)
Department of Defense Releases New Cyber Resilient Weapon Systems Body of Knowledge
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Holds a News Conference With Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak, Warsaw, Poland